NEW YORK — And so the most anticipated season in Nationals history has reached its midpoint in a most surprising state. The Nats enter today's series (and first half) finale at 40-40, a full 6 1/2 games behind the Braves in the NL East and still trying to find their way before it's too late.

Help is on the way, with Bryce Harper due to come off the DL tomorrow for the start of a seven-game homestand. Today, the Nationals will have to try to generate some offense against another young Mets phenom: Zack Wheeler. The rookie right-hander actually arrived in New York with a higher ceiling than Matt Harvey, though obviously Harvey's results at the big-league level have been out of this world.

Gio Gonzalez starts for the Nationals, trying to get his team back over the .500 mark before heading home. Updates to come…

The constant playing the same damn Span record on the jukebox needs to stop. You have made your feeling known over and over again. And again and again and again. We get it. You don't like Span hitting lead off. Got it. And,mick? Sometimes when you're in a hole the best thing you can do is quit digging.

did we not decide on Friday afternoon that we would lose against Harvey and Wheeler and then beat Gee on Saturday? I also thought this was supposed to be long game for Nats fans in the bottom of the first inning.

See Eck is all over that top step of the dugout when we score some runs. Normally he's down in the runway where Riggleman used to hide.Gosh, what a fun game. Desi crushed that last one.Harper tomorrowPlay frickin ball!!

Thanks ever so, guys. That was teh awesomez!1natsfan1a said… Wouldn't it be nice to end the series on a high note, with another curly W, and a series win, in the books? How about it, Nats and Gio? kthxbai. June 30, 2013 12:51 PM

Joeseamhead saysAnd,mick? Sometimes when you're in a hole the best thing you can do is quit digging.WTF does that mean…. keep your dumb ass post to yourself you sanctimonious jerkI do not care if Mark deletes this as he seems to let some you mother fers get away with anything and others who usually retaliate, he censors Span should not lead off in my view and oh about 7 other posters in here's views. He has one decent game and you try to make it a referendum on the whole season…What pisses me off is I have defended Span up until about 2 weeks ago when MANY other posters were CORRECTLY pointing out his flaws as a lead off. If you disagree, why do you think you can criticize the posters who make good points on why Span should not lead off? Everyone has differing views, so stop going after people with your smart ass posts if you disagree with themgot it, sweetheart!

Really, mick? You went on and on about Harper leading off in 2012, which I believe that he never did one time.You insisted that you were going to show us some box scores.also, I didn't attempt to make any referendum. My only criticism was directed at the poster that has posted what seems like a hundred times that he doesn't like Span at leadoff. It's become a broken record. You should look back at your posts today. I wasn't attacking you, but you were insisting that Bryce led off off last year. You were incorrect. No big deal. But, mick? Insisting that you're right when you're not isn't going to make you right.Thus, "my quit digging" comment.—–///——–mick said…nats lady…you need to stop nowJune 30, 2013 1:51 PM mick said…ah…found all the box scores for 2012… where do I begin??June 30, 2013 1:52 PM NatsLady said…Unless baseballreference.com is incorrect, Harper NEVER batted leadoff in 2012. Not once. He batted 2nd 117 times, other positions a smattering.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=harpebr03&year=2012&t=bJune 30, 2013 1:53 PM mick said…I will copy and paste the box scores…one moment please….June 30, 2013 1:53 PM——–///——-Now, seriously, did you find a box score that showed Harper batting leadoff?